Eleven have already gone into ­administration this year alone thanks to poor sales, soaring ­business rates and the boom in cheaper online goods. Professor Joshua Bamfield of the Centre for Retail Research called on the Government to step in and help.

He warned that one in 10 of all shops across the UK could shut over the next two years.

He said: “The retail industry is in crisis, caused by slack demand and escalating ­business rates.

“The Government must act now to protect the range of large and small shops by freezing rates at the very minimum. If not, then thousands of jobs and stores are forced to close.”